Tank lock



INVENTOR W I 85 BY A oRNr-:Ys

'May 8, 1945. l M MALLUK 2,375,671

TANK LOCK Filed April l5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 cars, and similarvehicles. y

An object of this invention is tn provide a lock tem whereby not onlyshowingmy improved lock,`

' t Figure 3 is `an end view. of my lock with the locking arms inlockedposition. l i i ing the locking arms.

arms on the operating shaft.

Patented May 8, 14945 l UNITED STATES? TANKlLooK `Assad M. Malick, NewYork, N. Y. Application `Aprilia,` '1943,.Serial No.` 482,861

` 'comme (cmo-"168) This invention relates to locks for necks of fueltanks and while not limited to such is particularly directed to locksfor fuel tanks of planes,

system which may not only prevent tampering with the contents of thetank but which will pre vent the caps from becoming loose duc tovibration, shock or the sharp turning of the vehicle.

4With airplanes, which for .the most part .are kept under guard, thekey` lock is not always necessary. However, due to the vibration. ofIiightythe sudden turns and stresses, a positive lock which will preventthe cap from becoming unscrewed is highly `desirable.` It is,`therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide a key lockwhich operates ony the same principle and also to provide a completetanksecuritysysthe lling neck butthe drainage plug will be adequatelyprotected. i Since no tanklock can be `100 percenteffective unless thetank drainis also protected, I provide in .combination with `a necklockmeans for preventing the draining of the tankbyjthe removal ofthedrainage plug, andthe resultant combina- 2 tion completely protectsthecar or. other vehicle so that t'is impossible to remove the gasolinetherefrom without havingthe keys...V f V i In the accompanyingdrawings,i Figure 1. is a side elevation in `cross section f Figurezis `a sideelevation partly in.` section taken .at right angles to Figure 1. l

Figure 4 is aview taken `on the `line 4-4 of Figure `1 with locking armsin the unlocked position, 1 Figure 5 is a detailed view of the housingcover- Figure 6 is a estan view of the spindle with the housing removed.Figure 7 is a detailed view ofrone of the locking Figure 8 is a sideelevation in cross section of a modification of my device foruse with akey.

Figure 9 isa bottom view showing locking arms fin locked position.

Figure 10 isV a view similar to Figure 9 with Uthe locking arms inregister.

Figure 11 is a detailed View of a modified lockingarm. Y. a i l improvedplug lock.

Figure 12 is a sectional side elevation ofrny 5 I8 and openings l9and 20adjacent tothe end `of each cammed-face. Lugs 52 and 53 are provided atthe end of each cam face.` j

My improved cap 2| is provided with an ex# terior cap member 22, thelower part `of which may be providedwith a washer 23 which will `i'nsuretight contact with the mouth 24 of the 'neck I5. Depending from the capmember 22 is a shank 2 5 `fastened to the underside of the cap member bymeans of `the screws 28. The shank 25 is widened at itslowere'nd toprovidean enlarged member 21 which bears the iixed locking arm 28screwed to the bottom thereof by means of the screws 29. ItCmay also beprovided with the abutments 3 0 and 3| to limit the movement of themovable locking arm hereinafter described. Mounted within the shank 25is a shaft 35 having its lower end 36 cut with a high pitched spiral 0groove 31. Freely mounted thereon is abushing" 38 which is provided withinternal lugs tc engage saidgroove. `Bushing 38 bears a movable lockingarm 39. The shaft extends notonly through the shank `25 but through thecap portion 2:2 into V the handle 40 whichis rotatable upon the cap 4|fixes theshaft in place in member 22. A pin @the handle. y Y

Rotation of the operating handle 4 0 isgoverned by a spring release 42`comprising the lever 43 pivoted at 44 and engaging the pin45 which inturn is normally depressed bythe spring 46; The pin registers with aplurality of depressions 41 to lock the operating handlein place.

1It may be seen that by depressing the f lever 43, `fthe operatinghandle 40 may then be turnedto .transmit rotation to the shaft 35.

`In order to prevent the movablelocking arm 39 from falling on' at theend of .the shaft, a bushing 48 is provided andheldby the'upin` .43

through the shaft. Thepitch of the spirallgroove 31 is such that it andtheweight of the arm 39.

will tend to cause the movable with the shaft when it is turned. i Asecond housing 50 may be provided tocover arm 39 to rotate `and protectthe end of the shaft and the locking PATENT OFFICE N l plug used to`cover `In order to prevent possible loss arms and to aid in centeringthe cap. The housing 50 isv provided with L-shaped openings 5| to allowthe movement of the movable locking arms.

In use the movable arm and the stationary arm are held in register bythe spring release 42 when the cap is out of the neck. The cap isinserted into the neck with the arms passing through the openings I9 and20. The cap is then turned and tightened into position with the fixedlocking arm 28 engaging the cam faces I1 and I8 of the collar I6 thustightening the washer 23 against the mouth 24 and providing a. tightfit. The spring release is then pressed down with the finger andA thehandle 40 turned in a clockwise direction. This causes the locking arm39 to rotate with the shaft until it contacts the abutments 30 and 3|when it can rotate no further. As the shaft con tinues to rotate thelocking arm then must rise on the shaft until it is brought intopositionagainst thehousing 50 and behind the depending lugs 52 and 53 asshown in Figure 3. This locks the entire cap into position so that itmay notI be rotated to loosen the permanent locking arms grip on the'cam faces I1 and I8 and no amount of vibration can loosen the cap. Thehandle is l -held against turning by the spring release 42.

When it is desired to remove the cap, spring release lever 43 is pressedand the handle 49 turned in a counter-clockwise direction. This willdrive the arm 38 downwardly on the shaftI until the lugs 52 and 53 arecleared, when the arm will again rotate until it again engages theabutments 30 and SI `at which point they will ,be

.in register with the permanent locking arm 28.

The entire cap can then be rotated until the locking arms register withthe openings I9 and 20 when the `cap may be removed.

of the cap, a groove 55 with a ring 5E attachedfto a chain 51 seatedinthe groove 55 may be provided. It will -be understood that the kring56 will rotate in the groove so that the chain 51 will not restrict theoperation of the cap. The other end of the chain 51 may be fastened toany convenient fixture.

In the form shown in Figures 8, 9, and l thek identical principle isinvolvedl except that the shaft is rotated by a key. This form isadapted to the ordinary automobile tank neck GII which Ais provided withinternal cam faces 6I and 62 terminating in lugs |53y and 64. The cap'55 instead of having a long shank as shown vin the form 'heretoforedescribed, engages a housing BS which is fastened by means of the screws6,1 to the bottom of the cap. The same screws fasten the permanentlocking arm B8 to the bottom of the housing 66. f I The shaft 69 extendsthrough the housing and has a` table 'I at the top thereof, which tableis provided with a key 1I adapted to engage the bottom of the lockmechanism 12, controlled by the key 13. The bottom of the shaft 69 ispro-vided with a spiral groove 'I4 and the movable locking arm 15mounted on the bushing 'I6 engaging `said groove. The bushing 11 holdsthe arm on the shaft. When the cap is inserted in the neck they arms areplaced in register and the fixed. vlocking arm `Eiengages the cams @Iand 62. After the cap is in place, key 13-is turned causing the movablelocking arm to turn in a clockwise direction until it has cleared thelugs 63 and 64 and engages the abutments 8l] and 8| and then to rideupwardly behind the lugs S3 and 64 to lock the cap against rotation. Thekey may then be removed and the key hole covered bythe cap 18.

When the cap is to be removed, the key 13lis inserted and turned untilthe movable arm drops clear ofthe lugs 63 and 64 and then ro of my capmay be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention and thatmy invention resides primarily in the provision of a xed locking armadapted to hold the cap firmly within the neck against the cam faces andthe further pro- `vision of a movable arm adapted to register with thevxed arm when the cap is unlocked and to rotate and move upwardly behindthe lugs when l the cap is in a locked position.

Every tank such as the tank Itl is provided with a plug drain consistingof a housing lill adapted to receive the plug IGZ, these plugs ma).Yvary in diameter` such as the plugs |53 and |04. I providev plugsadapted to fit any of the standard sizes with varying sized shanks butwith a standard head and with a standard annular portion I.

My `lock |61 consists of a base plate |68, a side member |09 and anadditional side member III) hinged to the member |99 at III, a springlatch hook I2 is pressed outwardly by a spring I I3 connected by meansof a rod II4 tothe-lock H5 which is seated in the grooved portion I Iofthe member |09. A catch member II1 is adapted to engage the spring latchII2 to holdthe lock in a closed position. The member Il has a lower-wall IIB and an upper wall I I9 both of which ex 40 tend inwardly, thelower wall H8 contacting the base IIIB while the upper wall forms withthe member |09 an annular opening adapted to-engage the annular face |06of the plug.

In orderto protect the lock, I provide an elastic cover I 2D adapted tofit the entire lock l Ill. In applying my lock a ,plug` of the propersize is inserted into the housing Il) I The cover |20 is then placedwith its opening I2! over the bolt and the lock |01 snapped about thehead 0f the plug. The elastic cover IZII is thenI drawn over the lockIDI and the entire plug andlock are protected from.

tampering. The annular edges |22 and |23 form an opening slightly largerthan the annular face IIII so that any rotation of the lock will notcause l a loosening of the plug and it will be impossible to draingasoline from the tank unless the person so doing has a key for thetank.

Itmay be seen that I have provideda means for complete security forfluid tanks whereby not only the neck of the tank but the drainage plugis protected.

I claim :v

l. The combination with a neck having internal camfaces and lugsadjacent to said Jfaces, of a cap, said cap' having a fixed armadaptedto en gage said cam faces, a movable arm adapted to engage said lugs andmeans for rotating said movable arm and causing it to ride upwardlybehind said lugs to engage them.

- 2. The combination with a neck havingr internal cam faces and lugsadjacent said canizfaces. of a cap therefor, `said cap having affixedlocking arm adapted to engage said cam faces, a movable arm adapted toregister With said xed arm when said cap is in unlocked position andmeans for ro* Y through said cap,

tating and elevating said` movable arm to lock said movable arm behindsaid lugs, said means being operable externally of the cap.

`3. A tank closureincluding a neck having an internal iiange,` openingsin said `ian'ge, lugs` on said flange, a closure cap, means von saidclosure cap to engage said flange and `rotatable and upwardly movablemeans on said cap to engage:

said lugs to prevent movement of the cap.`

`4:. The combination with a neck havinginternal flanges and lugsadjacent to said flanges of a'cap therefor, said cap having a` xedlocking arm adapted to engage said angeaa shaft extending a spiralgroove in the end of said shaft, a second locking arm` having internallugs engaging said groove mounted on said shaft and means operable fromthe top of said cap to rotate said shaft and tocause said arm torotateandride upwardly on said shaft.`

5. The combination of alneckhavinginternal cammed surfaces and lugsadjacent to said movable arm mounted on the lower end of said i shafthaving lugs engaging said groove, an abutment limiting the rotation ofsaid arm, said abutment being soplaced with relation to said lugs as toprevent the rotation of. said arm beyond said lugswhensaid shaft isrotatedand to cause said l arm to move upwardly on said shaft `behindsaid lugs.

'7. Aftank closure including a neck having a pair of lateral cammedsurfaces, lugs adjacent tion.

`spiralgroove on said shaft, a ing lugs engaging said groove mounted onsaid shaft, stop means limiting the rotation of said said cammedsurfaces, a closure cap therefor, said closure cap having projectionsadapted to engage said cammed surfaces to hold said cap in place, ashaft extending through said closure cap, a spiral groove on said shaft,a movable arm having lugs engaging said groove mounted on said shaft,stop means limiting the rotation of said arm whereby said arm willrotate with said shaft until it engages said stop means when it willrise upwardly on said shaft behind said lugs and a handle member on thefor rotating said shaft.

8. A tank closure includinga neck having a pair of lateral cammedsurfaces, lugs adjacent said cammed surfaces, a closure cap thereforsaid closure cap having projections adapted to engage said cammedsurfaces to hold `said cap in place, a shaft extending throughsaidclosure cap, a movable arm havarm whereby said armwill rotate with saidshaft until it engages said stop means whenit will rise upwardly on saidshaft behind said lugs and key controlled means for rotating said shaft.

9.,A tank closure including a neck having a pair of lateral cammedsurfaces, lugs adjacent said cammed surfaces, a closure cap therefor,said closure cap having projections adapted to engage saidcam-inedsurfaces to hold said cap in place,

'a shaft extending through said closure cap, a

spiral groove on said shaft, a movable arm having lugs engaging saidgroove mounted on said shaft, stop means `limiting the rotation of saidarm whereby said arm `will rotate with said shaft until it engages saidstop means when it willrise upwardly on said shaft behind said lugs anda handle member on the extension of said cap for rotating said shaft,said handle memberhaving a releasable catch to prevent its accidentalrota- AssAD M.

exterior of' said cap f

